The Chaoswar Saga: A Kingdom Besieged, A Crown Imperilled, Magician’s End. Raymond E. Feist

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      As the two men suddenly charged, Hal answered, ‘I don’t think they care.’ He knew from experience there was a profound difference between formal duelling and combat.

      Ty discovered that in the first instant, when he attempted to beat aside his opponent’s blade and discovered it was a feint not to gain blade position but so that he could bring up a short knife in his left hand and drive it into Ty’s stomach. But Ty was fast enough to recognize the threat. Turning slightly, he let the man go by. ‘So, that’s how it’s going to be?’ He kicked out and left the man sprawling.

      Hal knew he faced a brawler from the way the man made one lunge, then retreated into a crouch. Suddenly he realized something. The other two men would be back. ‘We’d best kill them swiftly and be on our way.’

      ‘I know,’ said Ty. He watched as his man made the fatal mistake of trying to turn while still on the ground and as he stood up he impaled himself on the tip of Ty’s sword.

      Ty turned to see Hal’s opponent backing away. His eyes widened, and Ty turned around and saw the two men who had run out of the tavern appear, coming from the other direction at a run. Ty crouched as the two men came close.

      But rather than attack, the two men slowed and approached with their palms upraised. ‘Wait!’ shouted one, the red-bearded man.

      ‘Why?’ demanded Ty, standing over the body of the man he had just killed.

      ‘That,’ said the second man, pointing behind Ty.

      ‘Hal, what does he mean by “that”?’ asked Ty, not taking his eyes off the two men from the tavern.

      ‘Look,’ said Hal. From the other end of the street a half dozen men were coming at a run.

      ‘Come with us,’ said the red-bearded man.

      ‘How do we know we can trust you?’ asked Ty.

      ‘You think you can trust that lot?’ replied the man, pointing again.

      Ty looked once more and saw the men who were approaching had their weapons drawn.

      ‘Fair enough!’ shouted Hal, lashing out with a sudden move that took his close opponent across the ribs. It was not a killing blow but would slow the man down enough to stop him joining in the hunt.

      They took off on a mad dash and the red-bearded man motioned for them to turn a corner and race towards the harbour. Hal glanced over his shoulder and saw the men behind them now numbered a full dozen, all looking ready for blood.

      Normally the crowded streets of Roldem’s river and harbour district would have been a hindrance, but because business had fallen off, the docks were as empty as if it had been a temple holy day. They charged through one big square, down another street and came to the docks. The red-bearded man turned right and the other three followed. At the end of the docks a ship was tied up and before the gangplank stood a dozen armed men.

      Ty began to slow, but the dark-haired man shouted, ‘It’s all right. Come on!’

      The men in front of the gangway parted and the four of them ran up to the deck of the ship. They looked back just in time to see the dozen men run up to the men gathered before the ship. They slowed just out of reach and hesitated.

      Ty said, ‘If they attack do we go back down?’

      ‘They won’t attack,’ said the red-bearded man.

      ‘Why?’ asked Hal.

      ‘That’s why,’ said his companion, pointing to the far end of the dock.

      Where the dozen pursuers had turned, there now came a squad of men in the uniform of the Roldem city guard. Steel helmets gleamed in the day’s sun and half of them carried pikes.

      The leader of the pursuers saw them coming, shouted an order and they broke into a run and dashed down an alley, away from the docks.

      The leader of the watch came to stand before the dock workers and demanded, ‘What’s all this, then? Got a dead man back around the corner and saw a bunch of men dashing this way.’

      One of the dock men said, ‘Jumped one of our lads in the alley and a fight broke out. We came and got them then they got their friends, then they came here, and tried to fetch our lads.’

      The watch leader looked dubious then he glanced over and saw which ship he was standing by. ‘Oh, this is …?’

      ‘Yes,’ said the dock man. ‘I think it was a ruse to get aboard.’

      ‘Well, we can’t have that,’ the watch commander said. ‘They’re long gone, no doubt, but we’ll have a look after them and see if we can find anything.’ His attitude suggested he wouldn’t look very hard and expected to find nothing. With a wave he gestured for his company to follow and he set off along the alley down which the other gang had fled.

      ‘Well, that’s done,’ said the red-bearded man. He turned to Ty and Hal. ‘Follow me, please.’

      Seeing no alternative, they did and he led them through a door to a cabin at the rear of the ship.

      In the room they found two people waiting, a young man in naval uniform and a beautiful young woman. She smiled and said, ‘There you are.’

      ‘Ma’am,’ said Hal, and Ty touched his forelock in salute.

      She sighed theatrically. ‘I am Lady Franciezka Sorboz, a loyal servant to His Majesty the King.’

      ‘And I am Albér,’ said the young officer. ‘We met at—’

      ‘You’re the Prince!’ blurted Ty. ‘Highness …’ He bowed.

      Hal followed suit. ‘Your highness.’

      The young man grinned. ‘Here I am Captain, not Prince.’

      ‘This is your ship, High— Captain?’ asked Ty.

      ‘Yes.’ He motioned for the two men to sit opposite Franciezka on a padded seat in front of the large stern windows. Even though these were the captain’s quarters, there wasn’t a lot of room.

      ‘We were content merely to watch over you from a distance,’ said Lady Franciezka, ‘until you so foolishly decided to go out brawling.’

      ‘Actually, my lady,’ said Ty, ‘he decided to go out. I went after him to ensure he was safe, and the brawling was not our idea. It just sort of happened.’

      ‘It’s been a month,’ said Hal, as if that explained everything. ‘So, were those Keshians? They didn’t look like Keshians.’

      ‘Those were common thugs, though I suspect at least one among them may have been a trained assassin,’ said Lady Franciezka. ‘You would both have been found dead, or you dead, Prince Henry, and you wounded, young Hawkins, and the story would be that it was a dockside brawl among many men, and the witnesses would have conflicting stories. Create enough confusion and the truth is hidden.’

      ‘And while the city watch was sorting things out,’ added Prince Albér, ‘my father would СКАЧАТЬ